(someone had to post it - anyway, I'll be honest, I don't remember the original well enough to be sure of what changed and what didn't - gosh dang if I didn't love that series when I was young though. It still did what very little sci-fi has done since, which is give glimpses of alien cultures and worlds, in a more fantasy-oriented way, sure, but it was a major source of inspiration and excitement for so many. A xenophile's delight. [Seems like everyone just focuses on jedi bad-assery these days, it was the cantinas, and mob dens, fauna, ships, and worlds that I think got a lot of us though...])

Movie Anakin was Sam's character (another Miley, whiney brat) "My Life as a House" set in space with Jedi.

The best thing about Clone Wars is that Lucas has just provided a general outline and then lets the writers do what they want to. He really should have done the same with episodes 1-3.

Agree with this 100%. Lucas is a solid visionary and producer... but he's a crappy writer and just terrible with actors. There's a reason why the best movie in the entire series, The Empire Strikes Back, is the one he had the least to do with.

Movie Anakin was Sam's character (another Miley, whiney brat) "My Life as a House" set in space with Jedi.

The best thing about Clone Wars is that Lucas has just provided a general outline and then lets the writers do what they want to. He really should have done the same with episodes 1-3.

Agree with this 100%. Lucas is a solid visionary and producer... but he's a crappy writer and just terrible with actors. There's a reason why the best movie in the entire series, The Empire Strikes Back, is the one he had the least to do with.

Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan always reminds me of Mos Eisley. Consider all the different coalition nations with their unique uniforms and cultures and the many different types of aircraft that fly in and out of there.

I don't mind the blinking Ewoks, I always though the Ewok suits looked cheap anyway. But the newest "Noooooo!" is pretty stupid. Does Lucas think that nobody was able to understand Vader's mental state since 1983?

Ultimately the changes he's making are so insignificant I can't understand why he's doing them.

Growing up, I liked Battlestar Gallactica better. Still do. Buck Rogers was a close 2nd. But I liked Star Wars. As for pussified... there were Ewoks singing a "lala" song at the end of Return of the Jedi.... who were basically the galactic version of "Care Bears". Yes, I did just go there....

I think this may be the appropriate forum to ask this. I get flak from people because I've not watched this flim and seeing this forum reminded me to add it to my netflix queue, however I don't see the original film that created the frenzy over the series all I see are episodes...

WTF?

Is the original film the end and the newer films the end of the series? If that was the case how is it that the newer CG animations and graphics are set before the original inferior film? Bear in mind this isn't a rant but I'm really puzzled by it to be honest. Any help is appreciated!

"Star Wars," the original film released in 1977, was a ground-breaking effort, although Geoge Lucas subsequently said a lot of the special effects were limited by the rudimentary technology of the time. And he declared himself dissatisfied.

When the third movie in the trilogy, "Return of the Jedi," was released, Lucas hinted he had some ideas for a second trilogy that would take place years before the first. He knew if he made sequels, he would have to wait years for the original actors to grow old. (Now might be a good time.) Prequels made sense if he was to extend the world of the Jedi knights.

Anyway, when the first "prequel" was about to hit theaters, Lucasfilm announced that, henceforth, the first "Star Wars" movie, always simply known as "Star Wars," would be retitled Part 4, and given a new name: "Star Wars: The New Hope." So the first three films then became parts 4-6. The prequels suddenly became parts 1, 2 and 3. Never mind that the production design, if not the actual stories, of the prequels far outshone the originals. The newer films could offer effects that could only be dreamed about in the 70's.

When Lucas saw what he could now do with the more advanced CGI, he started tinkering with the original three movies, adding whole sequences that he thought would freshen the franchise. Purists were aghast. Some fans didn't care. And, hey, it seemed to sell more DVD's, so Lucas never looked back. His goal was that all six movies would have similar production values and a seamless look.

It's troubling and sad that Lucas won't release the original movies in Blu-ray in their unadulterated form. I have read elsewhere that it's because his ex-wife owns partial rights to the originals and he can't release them without making her quite rich. So, to spite her--and ultimately, fans--for the near term, we will not be able to view them the way they should be seen.

captproton & Trollileo thanks for the in-depth explanations. I think I'll start with the original Star Wars and then travel to the 1st prequel, although it's out of order I got a feeling I may set my self up for failure watching the newer CG films without first watching the film that started the series.

I'm very grateful for Mr. Plinkett's reviews (http://redlettermedia.com/plinkett/star-wars/), they gave me the closure I needed to stop caring about how much George Lucas is ruining something I used to enjoy with his fucking terrible ideas.